Sonnet 116 Mainly a philosophical reflection on the nature of true love. A supremely confident tone. May refer to married love Or a faithful loving friendship Or both?

1 - 4 I would not admit that anything could interfere with the union of two people who truly love each other. Love that alters with changing circumstances is not love, Nor if it bends from its firm state when someone tries to destroy it Oh no, it’s an eternally fixed point that watches storms but is never itself shaken by them. It is the star by which every lost ship can be guided: one can calculate it’s distance but never know its worth.

Love doesn’t depend on Time, although the rosy lips and cheeks of youth eventually come within the compass of Time’s sickle. Love doesn’t alter as the days and weeks go by but endures until death. If this is all a mistake and I can be proved wrong then I’ve never written anything and no man has ever loved

Points to note Opening line refers to the words of an anglican marriage service A series of negative definitions stating what love is not 1 – 4 A powerful exclamation in line 5 – “Oh no!” followed by a series of positive metaphors defining love. A range of powerful statements…it is “ever fixed…never shaken…the star to every wandering bark” (lost ship). Note the maritime imagery. The star guides, gives direction, assures safety. This is what true love does! The sestet returns to negative definitions; love is not subject to time - although youth and beauty may be (note the personification of time as the reaper once more). Love endures (the ravages of time) till death itsel! The speaker ends with a remarkable statement. If I’m wrong about all this then I’ve never written anything and no has ever loved anyone else! Obviously he has written and obviously people have loved each other…therefore his point is ‘self proving’ so to speak. So, an enormously confident ending.

Mechanics etc… Alliteration “me…marriage…minds” “love…love” “remover…remove” “compass come” Assonance “Admit impediments…is / …it…love….love” “alters…alteration” “remover…remove” “star…bark” “unknown…although” Personification of time as the reaper. Use of the “tempests” as a metaphor for the storms of life. Use of “the star” as a metaphor for direction, surity, safety…love halps you navigate safely through the sometimes stormy waters of life.